2020-2021 WORLD CHAMPION Los Angeles Lakers Thread

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
First 7-0 on the road start to a season in franchise history.

Originally posted by DynastyChile:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

First 7-0 on the road start to a season in franchise history.

I don't take much stock in roads stats this year. Any road records with zero fans breathing down your neck should come with an asterisk.

2. Oh, hey, the Lakers are awesome

The Lakers are fourth in offense and first in defense even though they haven't revved the engine yet. They are different -- particularly on offense, where they are not the same battering ram at the basket -- but they might be better. Their new starting five has outscored opponents by (rubs eyes/checks to make sure I'm conscious) 30 points per 100 possessions. They are playing a more aggressive defense, but they appear just as fearsome -- smart, in sync, huge along the back line.

LeBron James is averaging almost three fewer minutes per game than in any prior season. His touches and time of possession are down beyond what you would expect given that minutes decline. He's running about seven fewer pick-and-rolls per 100 possessions, according to Second Spectrum. This team is playing the long game and dominating the present. Gulp.

They are only scratching the surface of what James and Anthony Davis can do alongside a scoring point guard (Dennis Schroder) within all the space the Lakers opened by signing Marc Gasol.

They ran this Schroder-James pick-and-roll -- with Davis and Gasol in the corners -- against the Rockets on Tuesday until they got bored scoring so easily:

Schroder dusts James Harden in what was Harden's final game as a Rocket, when he may or may not have accidentally worn a Brooklyn Nets jersey underneath his Houston uniform.

Switching exposes another mismatch: LeBron with a point guard on him.

Houston pivoted to drop-back defense after this. It didn't work. Schroder hit LeBron with a pocket pass, and LeBron rumbling to the rim is a DEFCON 1 emergency. The Rockets swarmed, and LeBron kicked to Gasol for a wide-open corner 3.

Davis-at-center lineups offer the same spacing with more speed and defensive versatility.

The Lakers remain favorites to repeat.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

Originally posted by DynastyChile:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:
First 7-0 on the road start to a season in franchise history.

I don't take much stock in roads stats this year. Any road records with zero fans breathing down your neck should come with an asterisk.

True, but the majority of Lakers road games have more Lakers fans than home fans. lol

Originally posted by DynastyChile:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

Originally posted by DynastyChile:

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

First 7-0 on the road start to a season in franchise history.

I don't take much stock in roads stats this year. Any road records with zero fans breathing down your neck should come with an asterisk.

True, but the majority of Lakers road games have more Lakers fans than home fans. lol

Nowadays. Do you remember in the early 2000s, playing in Sacramento, Portland, Phoenix, San Antonio? Hell even the Warriors old arena was loud as f**k. The hostility levels esp after we won a ring in all arenas was unbelievable. A record put up this year against the legendary teams of old as far as road games goes I am not putting much value in.

Originally posted by StOnEy333:

ESPN breakdown I came across.